light or fan not both

[marinesgt0411]

not a nec question just need help thinking

either the light or the fan will be on
three way switch controlling light light is on fan is off switch switch to other position fan is on and light is off go to other three way change postion light is on fan is off no matter which way switches are only one item is on either light or fan cannot turn both on or off.

have not had a chance to open switches to see how they are wired just cannot think of how they may be wired to work in this way.

will be visiting my sister on Easter and would prefer not to spend alot of time on fixing this problem in her kitchen.

 

[electricman2]

Let's see if I have the right take on this. You can alternate between fan and light from either switch but one of the two is always on?

 

[marinesgt0411]

that is the way it was explained to me
will look at it tomorrow whicn is Easter

 

[Gmack]

Unbelievable!

I never would have "thunk" this.

It would seem that this "electrician" performed a "mid span" tap on the travelers.

Well I will give credit for "creative" thinking.

 

[LarryFine]

It sounds to me like someone saw red and assumed 3-way. They may or may not be correct. It could be that the fan's light-kit is supposed to be controlled by a pair of 3-ways, and the fan by chain, or perhaps by one switch.

I'd start with looking above the fan's canopy and check whether there is one (black) or two (black and red) hots in the box. Often, fan's get hung with both black and blue wires one one hot, and nothing on the other one.

 

[marinesgt0411]

Fan has NO light kit and 3way appear to be wired correctly

Fan has just a 12-2 going to it No J-box just a 12-2 stuffed through hole in drywall and fan toggle bolted in place.

From what I was told previous Home-Owner did a-lot of the electrical work in the house.

Will be taking my service Van over this weekend and be spending a-lot of time checking out the electrical system in this house.

Will be working for cost of materials only oh and room and board for the weekend.

toggle bolt a fan to the ceiling where did that come from?

 

[tshea]

Will be working for cost of materials only oh and room and board for the weekend.

Aren't relatives great?

toggle bolt a fan to the ceiling where did that come from?

Glad you caught it before your sister did!

Q. What do you do with a ceiling fan that used to be toggled to the ceiling?
A. Throw it away and patch the big hole! Hire an electrician to install a new one--CORRECTLY!